Osage Beach pledges to boost appearances

The push to improve the aesthetics of the northeast end of Osage Beach received a boost last week when the city of Osage Beach pledged $1,000 toward revamping the Osage Beach/Lake Ozark Welcome Sign.

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By Dan Field

The Lake News Online

By Dan Field

Posted May. 8, 2013 at 8:00 AM

By Dan Field
Posted May. 8, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Osage Beach

The push to improve the aesthetics of the northeast end of Osage Beach received a boost last week when the city of Osage Beach pledged $1,000 toward revamping the Osage Beach/Lake Ozark Welcome Sign.

The sign, at Bus. 54 and Osage Beach Parkway, has welcomed visitors to the lake for some 15 years as they arrived on Highway 54 before the Highway 54 Expressway was built. The Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Lake Ozark Rotary have maintained a welcome garden for 15 years with the help of Lake Ozark and Toby’s Nursery.

But time has taken its toll on the area, and a facelift is in order, according to Joe Roeger, representing the Lake Area Chamber.

“There’s still a lot of traffic past that location,” he said, “and it’s time for a facelift. We’ll get it done, and with the help of the city we’ll get it done better.”

Bill Mackay, general manager of Paradise USA, has stepped forward with an offer to donate plants and on-going maintenance. There is a need for new plant material and an upgrade in the Lake Ozark/Osage Beach sign that fronts a long concrete wall that is a major focus of the Welcome Garden.

Estimated total cost to upgrade the area is $20,000 and Central Bank has already donated $2,000, but with the help of Paradise USA the out-of-pocket cost is estimated at $7,500. The Tri-County Lodging Association and CVB also are expected to provide funding, and the city of Lake Ozark is considering three $500 payments and will continue to provide water for the area at no cost.

Housing

Aldermen approved a request for the construction of rental townhomes in a previously undeveloped area just off Dude Ranch Road.

Terry Ross, the developer, plans to build as many as 11 duplex buildings for a total of 22 units on property between Ledges Drive and Port Lane, with frontage on Port Lane.

His request met some resistance from nearby homeowners Jim and Sarah Stevenson, who live on Port Lake and who spoke during a public hearing last week.

Sarah Stevenson said she and her husband and others in the neighborhood have opposed the development of the area previously. They are concerned they will lose their quiet neighborhood.

Developer Ross noted that his plan was within the allowable use of the C1 zoning. He said the zoning allows him to build a nightly rental hotel, but he felt the duplexes were more suitable for the area.

City Planner Cary Patterson said since the area is zoned for development, “it can and will develop in the future.” The area will not remain forested because of the existing zoning.

Page 2 of 2 - “The duplex housing will be a better situation for everyone in the area rather than storage buildings and a hotel,” he said.

Patterson also noted in his memo to the board that the city’s Comprehensive Plan encourages the city to provide additional work force housing when the opportunity arises, and the rental concept is better for the area rather than for-sale condos and duplexes.

In a related decision, the board approved an ordinance allowing for a change in the Sewer Development Charges for the proposed area. The city will upgrade the sewer line in the Port Lane to accommodate the additional demand created by the proposed duplexes.

More housing

The final plat for Cottage Hill Villas on Three Seasons Road also was approved.

Developer Ron Westenhaven wants to build five duplexes on the east side of Three Seasons Road off Rt. KK. Construction is expected to begin soon.

The developer is reducing the number of lots left in the original subdivision from six to five to make them large enough to accommodate the duplex units.